Clamp-on table for the arms of chairs or the like



W. L. FOOTE Feb. 16, 1954 CLAMP-0N TABLE FOR THE ARM OF CHAIRS OR THE LIKE.

2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 L. F OOTE INVENTI'OR 42 WILMA- ATTORNEYS W. L. FOOTE Feb. 16, 1954 CLAMP-ON TABLE FOR THE ARM OF CHAIRS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 INVENTOR YW ATTORN EYS WILMA L. FOOTE Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP- ON TABLE FOR THE ARMS OF 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamp-on table for use and association with armchairs, davenports, and the like for occasional, or end table use. The device consists of preferably, a partially rimmed, plane table surface made of hardwood, plywood, or any of the various other materials that are used for such purposes, and, having secured to the under side of the table surface, two substantially D shaped bail members the open ends of which are clamped fixedly to the under side of the table and normally have their plane lying close to, or parallel to the table under surface. The resilient character of these bail members permits them to be sprung apart so that they can coact to engage the arm of a chair or the arm of a davenport or like piece of furniture.

In the past many arrangements have been provided to give a limited table space for use of an individual. Such tables are used when food is served or to hold drinks or other refreshments. A very common table of this order is the nest of tables so generally used. These, however, are bulky and when in use do not give a truly substantial support for either drinks or food. some attempts have been made in the past to provide table surfaces that would permit of their being secured to the arms of chairs, the knees of the users, and the like; however those that have been observed have been generally bulky, unsightly, dilficult to handle and by their very nature expensive thus limiting the average homeowner to the bare minimum. Our present clamp-on table is characterized by a light construction which can be economically made, and when secured in place, is very firmly attached to the chair arm. My present table top therefore overcomes many of the deficiencies of the devices formerly used for this purpose; and due to the fact that they fold so compactly for storage purposes, and are cheap in first cost, an adequate number of these can be provided so that they may be used very generally, even for such items as ashtrays, books, sewing materials and the like. There are many uses for something of this general order that is easily attached, easily stored, and which is very secure once it is put in place for use.

The principal object of my invention provides a tabletop that may be easily clamped onto a wide variety of chair or davenport arms.

A further object of my invention is to provide a specific means for clamping a table to a chair arm which means is so constructed that without damage to the fibres of the fabric the clamp means will press well into the, same, and being 2 bail-like in structure, thus provide a very secure anchorage for the table top.

A further object of my invention is to provide clamping means for a table top formed of spring wire in a very simple bail-like arrangement which does not ever call for the wire to be distorted beyond its elastic limits and therefore a long life expectancy is insured.

A further object of my invention is to provide resilient clamping means which when not in use normally lie interlocked to the under side of the table top and which because of its structure will engage securely a wide variety of chair arms.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of my tables as used on an overstuffed chair;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom of my clamp-on table and illustrating the manner in which the securing resilient bails are attached to the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view partially in section, showing the means employed to secure the ends of the clamping bails to my table;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a simplt ned form of my table attached to a lightly constructed chair;

Figure 5 is a typical cross-sectional view as taken transversely across the table of Figure and showing the arm of the chair in cross-section;

Figure 6 is a typical cross-sectional view in elevation through the table of Figure 1 and showing the table and arm in section;

Figure 7 is a typical cross-sectional view in section through my table and illustrating the appearance of the same when the table is not in use.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the numeral It designates my table proper. This may be made of any suitable material normally, hardwood or veneer is most acceptable, and the type of wood finish may be such as to blend well with the furnishings with which it is to be used. Experience has shown that a rectangular form proportioned as shown in the various views is for most purposes most generally satisfactory. Two oppositely disposed bail members I2 and H are employed. The bails themselves are generally most satisfactory when the outward portion of the ball is substantially circular. The two ends of the bail are best formed to curve inwardly somewhat, particularly after the showing of Figure 2, and the extreme ends are bent back on themselves slightly, having the bend portion l6 and the end lever portions I8. The length of these lever portions must be suillcient so that it will give a firm anchorage for the ends of the bails as considerable strain is placed upon them, particularly when used on a thick armed chair upholstered after the showings of Figures 1 and 6. A suitable anchorage is provided by employing a metal strap member as 20 and employing a plurality of screws, normally two, as 22 and 23, at each end of strip 20. With certain materials screw riveting is very desirable. This is particularly true where the wood portion i is not thick enough to give sufficient hold for the screws so that they can resist the strain placed upon them.

Inasmuch as tables of this type are many times aflixed to upholstered arms that are not particularly firm, it is not always possible to maintain the table top in a truly level plane and it has therefore been found desirable to provide upstanding guard rails as 30 and 32 to the end that glasses, ashtrays, plates and the like will have a definite lodgment edge and will thus be held securely on the table top even if it should sway, particularly when a user may seat himself in the chair or rise from the same. The guard rails 30 and 32 may be secured in any convenient manner to table top if), the exact manner of attachment being a function of the materials from which the same is made. Small screws or drive nails as 34 are quite satisfactory when the table top is made of wood.

Manner of use Normally, my clamp-on table will be stored in the position it normally assumes and this is shown in cross-sectional view in Figure 7 in which the bail members are disposed normally with one substantially tight against the bottom of table 10, and the other spaced only slightly from it due to the fact that it must overlie the one that has been allowed to return to the table top first.

When the table is put into use, the user normally positions the table slightly above the arm of the chair, grasping the sides of the table top, and manually springs the two bails sufficiently far apart so that they can be slipped down over the upper portion of the chair arm. The final positioning of the table top is then achieved by pressing downwardly firmly as far as the table will go until it tends to flatten out the upholstered arm of the chair, for instance after the showing ,l

of Figure 6, so that a full bearing is obtained. Figure 6 is illustrative of the manner in which the bail members l2 and I4 sink into the upholstered surface of the chair. It is to be noted that the extreme downward extent of bails l2 and M as is illustrated at 38 and 39 respectively are pressed well into the upholstery of the chair. Experience has shown that this does not injure the fabric due to the extreme curvature of the bails. This might not be true if the bails were more rectangular with the outward extent a straight line meeting the side members of the bail with a short radius. With the bail members pressed well into the upholstery as illustrated, it will be observed that the table top is very secure and dishes and the like can be placed safely on the same even though they are not well balanced on it.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the use of my table on chairs having relatively light construction.

4 In this instance it will be noted particularly from the views that the bail members almost meet, or in some instance if the arm is sufiiciently shallow, one of the bail members will actually go inside of the loop of the other one. Now it is desired to invite attention to the fact that the bail members l2 and I4 should be made of a good grade of spring wire. They must be capable of being fitted over arms of various sizes to include overstuffed arms as 44 and when the period of use is completed spring back to the form shown in Figure 7. If such material of reasonable gauge is used, the table will be secure on a wide variety of arms and can be used on any particular chair on which the user cares to place it. This is particularly important in a device made for general sale and it is believed that this capability of this device distinguishes the same from many of the various arrangements that have been observed in the past.

Under certain conditions of use it is desirable to use the table as a serving tray and for such use it is necessary that the table lie flat on a plane surface. Normally the resilient bail members l2 and M extend below the bottom surface and it is desirable to provide a retaining clip as 4| to hold the same in tight engagement with the bottom. Two such clips might be used but one to engage the lowermost bail will suffice as the bails normally lie in overlapping relationship. The retaining clip can be secured in lace by one of the strap members 28 which position the bail members.

With the bail members held tightly against the table bottom surface, a plurality of legs or feet 42 are employed to form a plane resting surface for the tray when placed on a table.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a resilient clamp-on table.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A clamp-on table for the arm of an armchair or the like, comprising: a flat table member; two flat metal strap members fixedly secured to the bottom of said table near two opposite side edges thereof; two resilient metal bail members each formed of a single spring wire having two leg portions and a generously curved intermediate portion joining said leg portions, the end portions of each bail member being fixedly clamped between one of said strap members and said table bottom and the remainder of each bail member extending inwardly in a plane close to parallel to the plane of the table bottom with the adjacent portions of the bail members lapped, the extreme end portions of the bail members extending outwardly of the strap members and each having a first bend directed toward said table bottom and a second bend extending outwardly parallel to and pressing against said table bottom whereby the bail members resiliently resist downward bending; and a resilient U-shaped wire clamping member having its end portions clamped between one of said strap members and said table bottom and having the remainder thereof extending inwardly and clamping the curved intermediate portion of the lowermost, oppositelydirected bail member against said table bottom.

2. A clamp-on table for the arm of an armchair or the like, comprising: a fiat table member; two flat metal strap members fixedly secured to the bottom of said table near two opposite side edges thereof; two resilient metal bail members each formed of a single spring wire having two leg portions and a generously curved intermediate portion joining said leg portions, the end portions of each bail member being fixedly clamped between one of said strap members and said table bottom and the remainder of each bail member extending inwardly in a plane close to parallel to the plane of the table bottom with the adjacent portions of the bail members lapped, the extreme end portions of the bail members extending outwardly,of the strap members and each having a first bend directed toward said table bottom and a second bend extending outwardly parallel to and pressing against said table bottom whereby the bail members resiliently resist downward bending.

WILMA L. FOO'IE.

Number Name Date 724,492 Palmer Apr. 7, 1903 1,709,928 Whitney Apr. 23, 1929 1,726,144 Everts Aug. 27, 1929 2,054,098 Rich Sept. 15, 1936 2,375,643 Germanotta May 8, 1945 2,501,580 Reid Mar. 21, 1950 

